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Economy of Central African Republic vs Cuba compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

The Central African Republic has a GDP of $2.75B compared to $107B for Cuba, ranking 171/197 and 69/197 by economy size, respectively.

Central African Republic vs Cuba GDP by year

Central African Republic
Cuba
1x
Year GDP, current $
CAR Cuba
2024 $2,751,494,281 -
2023 $2,555,492,086 -
2022 $2,382,618,615 -
2021 $2,516,498,412 -
2020 $2,326,720,900 $107,352,000,000
2019 $2,221,301,351 $103,427,600,000
2018 $2,220,979,146 $100,050,036,100
2017 $2,072,349,973 $96,850,649,700
2016 $1,825,018,145 $91,370,407,900
2015 $1,695,825,714 $87,132,800,000
2014 $1,894,813,389 $80,656,100,000
2013 $1,691,544,110 $77,148,000,000
2012 $2,510,126,512 $73,141,000,000
2011 $2,437,982,705 $68,990,000,000
2010 $2,142,591,540 $59,562,962,963
2009 $2,067,381,665 $57,481,481,481
2008 $1,993,407,888 $56,302,129,630
2007 $1,699,811,295 $54,262,870,370
2006 $1,461,859,762 $48,835,925,926
2005 $1,337,894,379 $42,643,836,100
2004 $1,272,360,517 $38,203,000,000
2003 $1,142,315,523 $35,901,200,000
2002 $996,068,145 $33,590,500,000
2001 $932,648,605 $31,682,400,000
2000 $916,777,283 $30,565,400,000
1999 $999,477,511 $28,364,615,200
1998 $967,338,390 $25,736,331,200
1997 $937,741,513 $25,365,908,100
1996 $1,007,791,127 $25,017,368,700
1995 $1,115,389,674 $30,429,803,651
1994 $851,174,357 $28,448,326,757
1993 $1,278,781,262 $22,367,254,865
1992 $1,411,917,553 $22,085,858,243
1991 $1,377,374,987 $24,316,556,026
1990 $1,440,711,459 $28,645,436,569
1989 $1,233,930,281 $27,023,468,666
1988 $1,264,899,288 $27,458,999,472
1987 $1,200,991,978 $25,213,935,012
1986 $1,122,265,013 $24,226,574,634
1985 $864,849,836 $22,920,490,774
1984 $637,820,670 $24,039,383,608
1983 $658,679,333 $22,204,940,512
1982 $748,312,391 $20,953,510,235
1981 $694,803,623 $20,150,254,096
1980 $797,048,199 $19,912,889,861
1979 $700,764,748 $19,584,443,288
1978 $610,578,632 $17,844,705,325
1977 $507,298,148 $14,206,158,675
1976 $451,152,461 $13,789,579,903
1975 $378,660,016 $13,027,415,244
1974 $281,398,706 $11,405,957,317
1973 $271,183,082 $9,987,709,650
1972 $230,317,883 $8,135,150,892
1971 $201,450,800 $6,914,658,400
1970 $189,106,529 $5,693,005,200
1969 $188,039,210 -
1968 $191,767,442 -
1967 $163,820,514 -
1966 $157,930,018 -
1965 $150,574,795 -
1964 $142,025,079 -
1963 $129,379,124 -
1962 $124,482,774 -
1961 $123,134,583 -
1960 $112,155,598 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/central-african-republic/cuba | CC BY

GDP per capita in Central African Republic vs Cuba by year

Central African Republic
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Cuba
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
CAR Cuba
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $516 $1,263 - -
2023 $496 $1,257 - -
2022 $467 $1,218 - -
2021 $492 $1,129 - -
2020 $463 $1,066 $9,605 -
2019 $449 $985 $9,232 -
2018 $455 $906 $8,911 -
2017 $432 $884 $8,611 -
2016 $387 $826 $8,111 $12,300
2015 $366 $769 $7,728 -
2014 $410 $699 $7,147 -
2013 $364 $710 $6,828 -
2012 $544 $1,062 $6,471 -
2011 $534 $980 $6,104 -
2010 $477 $936 $5,272 $10,200
2009 $456 $877 $5,089 $9,700
2008 $437 $798 $4,986 $9,500
2007 $381 $783 $4,807 $11,000
2006 $334 $743 $4,330 $4,000
2005 $312 $702 $3,786 $3,500
2004 $303 $690 $3,399 $3,000
2003 $278.4 $648 $3,203 $2,900
2002 $248.6 $688 $3,005 $2,300
2001 $238 $668 $2,843 -
2000 $239.2 $640 $2,751 $1,700
1999 $268 $660 $2,562 $1,700
1998 $266.6 $645 $2,332 -
1997 $265.5 $626 $2,306 -
1996 $293.3 $601 $2,282 -
1995 $333 $631 $2,785 -
1994 $261.3 $592 $2,613 -
1993 $405 $570 $2,063 -
1992 $462 $573 $2,048 -
1991 $465 $618 $2,269 -
1990 $502 $620 $2,694 -
1989 $443 - $2,566 -
1988 $466 - $2,632 -
1987 $450 - $2,440 -
1986 $426 - $2,365 -
1985 $333 - $2,257 -
1984 $248.3 - $2,386 -
1983 $259.6 - $2,222 -
1982 $298.4 - $2,114 -
1981 $280.3 - $2,046 -
1980 $325 - $2,031 -
1979 $289.1 - $2,006 -
1978 $254.6 - $1,837 -
1977 $213.8 - $1,472 -
1976 $192.1 - $1,441 -
1975 $163.6 - $1,374 -
1974 $124 - $1,217 -
1973 $121.8 - $1,079 -
1972 $105.5 - $892 -
1971 $94.1 - $770 -
1970 $90.2 - $645 -
1969 $91.7 - - -
1968 $95.6 - - -
1967 $83.6 - - -
1966 $82.3 - - -
1965 $80.2 - - -
1964 $77.2 - - -
1963 $71.8 - - -
1962 $70.4 - - -
1961 $71 - - -
1960 $65.9 - - -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (1999–2016, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/central-african-republic/cuba | CC BY

The Central African Republic's GDP per capita is $516, ranking 195/197, compared to $9,605 in Cuba, ranking 86/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), the Central African Republic ranks 195th at $1,263, while Cuba ranks 124th at $12,300.

Economic indicators

CAR Cuba
Gross domestic product
$2.75B
2024
$107B
2020
GDP rank
171/197
2024
69/197
2020
GDP growth
1.5%
2023-2024
-1.06%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$516
2024
$9,605
2020
GDP per capita rank
195/197
2024
86/197
2020
GDP per capita, PPP
$1,263
2024
$12,300
2016
GDP per capita PPP rank
195/197
2024
124/197
2016
Government debt
$1.67B
2024
n/a
Debt-to-GDP ratio
60.7%
2024
n/a
Government debt per person
$313
2024
n/a
Government debt per person rank
178/185
2024
n/a
Average annual personal income after taxes
$1,078
2026
$3,075
2026
Income share by richest 10%
33.1%
2021
n/a
Income share by poorest 10%
2.1%
2021
n/a
Government expenditure, % of GDP
19.5%
2024
49%
2025
Consumer prices inflation
1.5%
2023-2024
5.5%
2019-2020
Unemployment rate
6.9%
2017
1.7%
2018
Population
5753659
10894785

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Central African Republic

Cuba
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
CAR Cuba
2024 1.5% -
2023 3% -
2022 5.6% -
2021 4.3% -
2020 0.9% 5.5%
2019 2.8% 5.5%
2018 1.6% 5.5%
2017 4.2% -
2016 4.9% 4.5%
2015 1.4% 4.4%
2014 17.8% -
2013 4% 6%
2012 5.9% 5.5%
2011 1.2% 4.7%
2010 1.5% 0.7%
2009 3.6% -0.5%
2008 9.2% 3.4%
2007 0.9% 3.1%
2006 6.9% 5%
2005 2.9% 7%
2004 -2.6% 3.1%
2003 4.4% 4.1%
2002 2.3% 7.1%
2001 4.1% -
2000 3.4% -
1999 -1.6% 0.3%
1998 -2% -
1997 1.6% -

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | World Economic Outlook (1997–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (1999–2020, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/central-african-republic/cuba | CC BY

Over the past 22 years, the Central African Republic has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 3.62%, compared with 4.16% in Cuba. In 2020, inflation was 1.5% in the Central African Republic and 5.5% in Cuba.

Balance of trade

CAR Cuba
Current account balance
-$24.7M
1994
n/a
Current account balance ranking
81/190
1994
n/a
Current account balance, % of GDP
-2.9%
1994
n/a
Goods imports
$131M
1994
n/a
Goods exports
$146M
1994
n/a
Service imports
$114M
1994
n/a
Service exports
$33.1M
1994
n/a
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
31.4%
2024
82.4%
2024
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
15%
2024
42.5%
2024

Economic freedom indices

The indices of economic freedom below are issued by the Heritage Foundation. Higher scores indicate stronger economic health.

CAR Cuba
Economic freedom 43.1 25.2
Economic freedom ranking 182/197 195/197
Property rights 5.6 27.7
Government integrity 19.2 33
Judicial effectiveness 4 16
Tax burden 65.5 51.9
Government spending 90.1 0
Fiscal health 59 0
Business freedom 26.5 41.4
Labor freedom 48.5 20
Monetary freedom 75.6 20
Trade freedom 47.6 72.8
Investment freedom 45 10
Financial freedom 30 10

Economic freedom comparison by year

Central African Republic
Cuba
1x
Year Economic freedom index
CAR Cuba
2026 43.1 25.2
2025 42.8 25.4
2024 41.3 25.7
2023 43.8 24.3
2022 45.7 29.5
2021 48.8 28.1
2020 50.7 26.9
2019 49.1 27.8
2018 49.2 31.9
2017 51.8 33.9
2016 45.2 29.8
2015 45.9 29.6
2014 46.7 28.7
2013 50.4 28.5
2012 50.3 28.3
2011 49.3 27.7
2010 48.4 26.7
2009 48.3 27.9
2008 48.6 27.5
2007 50.6 28.6
2006 54.2 29.3
2005 56.5 35.5
2004 57.5 34.4
2003 60 35.1
2002 59.8 32.4
2001 - 31.6
2000 - 31.3
1999 - 29.7
1998 - 28.2
1997 - 27.8
1996 - 27.8
1995 - 27.8

Data sources: The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09).

GeoRank.org/economy/central-african-republic/cuba | CC BY

The Economic Freedom Index for the Central African Republic is 43.1, ranking 182/197, compared to 25.2 for Cuba, ranking 195/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

CAR Cuba
Services, % of GDP
42.1%
2024
73.4%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
20%
2024
23.8%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
27.9%
2024
1.24%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$2.74B
2024
$101B
2019
GNI per capita, PPP
$1,340
2024
n/a
Total reserves including gold
$480M
2023
$144M
1960
Total reserves ranking
158/177
2023
173/177
1960
Net foreign direct investment
$3.6M
1994
n/a
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$40.4M
2024
n/a
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$0
2024
$0
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
1.94%
2024
n/a
Poverty at national poverty lines
68.8%
2021
n/a
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
23.6%
2024
9.87%
2020

GDP per capita map

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/central-african-republic/cuba | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (1999–2020, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | World Economic Outlook (1997–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  6. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  7. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.

The current account balance is the sum of net trade in goods and services, net earnings from cross-border investments, and net transfer payments. It reflects a country's economic transactions with the rest of the world and is a fundamental component of the balance of payments. A surplus indicates that a country exports more than it imports, while a deficit shows the opposite.

Gross National Income (GNI) measures a country's total income. It encompasses income earned by residents, businesses, and foreign sources, defined as employee compensation and investment profits. GNI adds product taxes not included elsewhere and subtracts subsidies. It accounts for income from residents working abroad but excludes earnings from foreigners within the country.

A negative value for Net Foreign Direct Investment indicates a country is a net receiver of investments, as foreign inflows exceed outflows after Balance of Payments adjustments. A positive value indicates a net provider, with outflows exceeding inflows. Inflows are credits (increasing foreign claims on domestic assets), while outflows are debits (increasing domestic assets abroad).

Foreign direct investment (FDI, net inflows) shows how much capital foreign investors bring into a country after accounting for any funds that flow back in the opposite direction. It represents the net value of overseas companies establishing, expanding, or financing businesses in the reporting country. A positive number means more capital entered the country than was withdrawn, while a negative number means foreign investors pulled out more than they invested.

Foreign direct investment (FDI, net outflows) shows how much capital residents of a country invest abroad after accounting for any funds that flow back in the opposite direction. It represents the net value of domestic companies establishing, expanding, or financing businesses in other countries. A positive number means more capital was invested abroad than withdrawn, while a negative number means residents pulled back more than they invested.

Principal and interest payments to the IMF in currency, goods, or services on long-term debt expressed as a share of GNI.

Formerly gross domestic investment, gross capital formation measures the share of a country’s economic output invested in fixed assets, including buildings, machinery, and infrastructure. It indicates how much of the economy is devoted to building productive capacity.